State of the University

Welcome back

August 20, 2014
by Jere W. Morehead, President

Welcome back to the University of Georgia and the start of the 2014-15 academic year. The University has enrolled a class of first-year students that, once again, has set a record for quality and academic achievement. The 5,285 freshmen have entered UGA with an average high school GPA of 3.90, an average score of 1289 on the SAT and an average of 29 on the ACT, and were enrolled in an average of six AP or IB high school classes. We selected this superb class from a record 21,200 applicants, demonstrating the high demand for UGA admission. Student academic achievement continues to be a point of pride for our University. I have the pleasure of teaching a First Year Odyssey seminar, and I look forward to interacting personally in the classroom with some of these outstanding students.

This past year UGA honored dozens of faculty members for excellence in teaching, research and service. I remain convinced that it is critical to our overall success as an institution to recruit and retain outstanding faculty. The University has largely completed the hiring of a cadre of new interdisciplinary faculty members who will add to the rich and talented variety of faculty serving this great institution. Our outstanding faculty are joined by dedicated staff members who contribute to the life and well-being of UGA on a daily basis. Together, the faculty and staff are responsible for providing the support our students (graduate, professional, and undergraduate) receive to ensure their success and advancement.

UGA ended the last fiscal year on June 30 with very encouraging news: the institution completed the best fundraising year in our history with 56,897 contributors giving a total of $126.4 million in new gifts and pledges. This record year is a tribute to the faith our alumni and friends have in the future of this exceptional University, and all of us at UGA are deeply grateful. The University will need continued support from our alumni and friends to reach new heights in the future.

We look forward to the promise of this academic year with much excitement. No doubt there will be unforeseen challenges, as well. Working together, I am confident that we can continue to excel as we solve problems and move this institution forward in a unified and positive manner. I hope each of you—students, faculty and staff—has a productive and fulfilling academic year. Thank you for your continued contributions to the University of Georgia.